Syllabus for the American Dream 2009

More than any other nation, the United States has envisioned itself as a landscape of pure possibility. From the 17th century to the present, an ever-shifting "American Dream" has been the repository of Americans' longing for a new kind of personal and national life. In this class we will consider how Americans have imagined their dream in terms of everything from political freedom to home ownership.

Readings will include the following books available for purchase at Amherst Books: